His Forgotten Love (A McGinty's Of San Antonio Series Novel Book 4)

by Donalyn Maurer

  “Dreaming about Holloway’s or me?” Jesse chuckles then begins swinging me on the tire.

  “Both.” I reply honestly.

  “Uncle Brock is printing out a third listing that just came in but here’s the other two.”

  I scream and almost fall out of the swing when I reach around excitedly for the papers. I catch myself but then lose my balance again only to have Jesse catch me right before I hit the ground. Callie is squealing out in laughter while my arms and legs go flailing.

  “Damien’s Creek, Allie!” Stone barks as he comes out the back door and makes his way to us. “You’d think you just walked into a spider’s web only to get free and then get attacked by a swarm of bees. Calm down.” He scolds then helps Callie slide down the fireman’s pole.

  “Yeah, good idea.” I murmur while Jesse and Callie keep laughing at me. I reach out and take the listings from Jesse and start looking them over. I take a deep breath and drop the papers to my lap.

  Nope. Not even close.

  I sit back down on the swing and start pushing back and forth with my feet and keep my head down. I don’t want anyone to see the tears of frustration and disappointment threatening to fall. Jesse comes and stands in front of me and kneels down.

  “Baby, we’ll find it. Don’t give in and don’t settle.” He promises me softly.

  “I know.” I sniffle and take a deep breath. “It’s just, I don’t know, maybe this place doesn’t exist. I have something in my mind, a picture of what I just know it has to look like. I almost need it to look like that but maybe I should bend. I don’t know.” I know I sound defeated.

  “Aunt Allie?” Callie calls softly. “Don’t be sad.” Her bottom lip pouts out like she’s about to join me in my tears. I can’t have that so I slap my hands down on my knees and look at her with a big grin. “Want to go down the slide with me?” I ask and her face lights back up.

  Whew.

  Callie throws her hands in the air and squeals, “Yippee.” She starts up the side ladder while Stone stands behind her making sure she doesn’t fall. Once she’s at the top, I make my way up. I sit down at the top of the slide and Callie climbs across me and sits down in my lap. Before we slide down I look at Jesse and he’s standing at the bottom staring at us in a daze. I let myself drift for a moment too and I know what he’s seeing. One day this will be us only it’ll be mine and Jesse’s daughter or son. Butterflies flutter in my tummy at the thought and I smile while looking down at Jesse. I grin and with deeper meaning than my words I ask Jesse, “Are you ready?”

  Jesse face lights up when I say that and then his face becomes serious when he says, “More than ready.”

  On his words I push Callie and I off and we slide down the slide and Jesse is there to catch us.

  It’s getting late and everyone has work in the morning but me. Some days I spend with Grandma Lila and Jesse’s aunts and Callie. Some I spend with my mom and dad, but mostly I spend time with everyone. There’s no designated family now. We’re a hodgepodge family. Our surnames may vary, but we’re one. And I know one day we’ll add more and more. Marriages, children, cousins and grandchildren will come. This is just the beginning.

  We’re all in the foyer saying goodbye and Callie has just given out her third round of hugs and kisses when I reach down and grab my purse from their table by the front door.

  Jesse’s uncle Brock walks back in the room holding a piece of paper. He looks at me and shakes his head before saying, “My buddy finally got this to me. Not sure you’re going to like this place either.” He confesses and hands me listing. “It’s kind of a dump and needs a lot of work but it has the space you wanted with different areas like you talked about. Even has a huge lot outside and part of that is covered in an old tin roof that’s hanging on by a thread. It needs a ton of work.” He walks over and picks up Callie. “I’ll keep looking though. We’ll find your place. Not going to give up. I have to get her to her momma so she can get a bath. Don’t worry, okay.” I nod and he starts for the stairs.

  With that news I don’t bother looking at the picture. I smile at everyone and then Jesse and I head out to Reba.

  We get buckled in and Jesse starts down the road. About the time we hit the interstate my frustration hits it peak and I start crying. Jesse quickly exits and pulls the car over in a parking lot, stops and hoists me over onto his lap, holding me while I cry. I try to hold my sobs at bay but so many fall that it seems impossible that I have that many inside me.

  I grab for my purse so I can check for a tissue, anything to wipe my face. I reach in and pull out the listing Jesse’s uncle gave me and I’m about to wipe my tears with it but instead something tells me look at it. As my eyes scan the paper I take a deep breath and a smile slowly spreads across my face.

  “Jesse.” I gasp, look at him and smile still sniffling with tears drenching my face. I grab the front of his shirt and wipe my face which causes him to softly chuckle as he caresses my cheek.

  “What, baby?” he asks while trying to help me wipe my cheeks.

  “Look!” I hand him the paper.

  Jesse takes the paper but keeps his eyes on me. When he sees my smile, his eyebrows draw together but he smiles and looks down at the paper. His eyes scan the paper before he asks, “This is it? You think this could be your Holloway’s?”

  “Yes. I think so.” I nod excitedly.

  “Get buckled in. Let’s go.” He pushes me back into my seat and I buckle up.

  “We’re going to look now?”

  “Hell yeah, we are.” he exclaims and puts the car in gear.

  My heart and stomach are flipping and fluttering as we hop back on the interstate and head towards New Braunfels.

  Twenty minutes later, we turn into a gravel lot and pull upside an old two-story white stone building and yes, it’s seen better days. I’d say much better days. It has a small bell tower at the top and I can’t help but laugh because I absolutely love that. Jesse and I both open our car doors and exit the car at the same time. I walk to the front of the building and see it’s much bigger than it appears. It’s huge. It has an old giant wooden door at the entrance and hammered to the front is a for sale sign. Something about that makes me angry and I walk forward and yank it down.

  This is already mine.

  I tear the sign in half and Jesse laughs. I turn and walk around the building slowly taking it all in. There’s a huge area in the back blocked off by privacy fence. I see the old tin roof and I cringe when I observe it’s hanging on by a thread like Jesse’s uncle said. But I love the tin roof and I decide right now that even if it comes down, I’m replacing it with another tin roof. I keep walking and once I get the back I see a huge covered parking area. Well, it’s covered by another dying piece of tin. It’s probably for motorcycles, I think as I keep going. I look up and see the windows have shutters of dark wood like the door. As I make it to the other side I stop when I hear something. I walk closer to the sound and hit a metal fence that come up almost to my chest. I can smell it and feel the mist but I can’t see it in the night. We’re right on the Guadalupe River and a huge smile spreads across my face when I think how perfect that is.

  “Jesse.” I call out behind me but scream when I see he’s right beside me. “Stop doing that, Jesse. Behave.” And he starts laughing. “This is it. This is Holloway’s.” I turn into his arms.

  “I like it, Allie, but let’s get a look inside before you make any final decisions, okay?” I nod my head in agreement but really I’m just doing that for him. This is my place. He laughs because he knows I’m just placating him.

  He lets go of me and holds up the listing as he shines his phone light on it. “Good thing is this place is going cheap. You’ll have plenty of money left to fix it up and repair stuff. That is, if it’s not a complete loss inside. But I can do a lot of it myself hopefully. I learned a lot from the years I worked with my dad. Plus, my family will all want to pitch in too.” he mutters absently, while looking back at the building. “Well, let’s
get home so we can call arrange to see the inside.” We start back for his car when an old pickup truck pulls into the lot and parks right next to Jesse’s car. An older man in blue jean overalls hops out and he’s holding a shotgun.

  Oh no!

  “No trespassing! Now, get gone!” he hollers.

  “Sir, my name is Jesse McGinty and this is my wife, Allie.” Jesse quickly calls back. “We were just looking at the property. My wife’s interested in purchasing it.” he tries to explain but lowers his voice, raises his hands and steps in front of me protectively when the man comes into view with the shotgun pointed at us.

  “But we’re leaving now.” I squeak, wrap my arm around Jesse’s waist and pull him backwards towards the car.

  “You interested in my place?” The old man asks relaxing his grip on the gun before pulling it back and resting it against his arm.

  “This is your place?” I inquire softly.

  “Yes, ma’am. Hey, what the hell happened to my sign?!”

  I look at the sign in my hand and cringe. I slowly hand it to Jesse and gives an ‘oh thanks a lot look’ as he takes it and hands it over.

  “I love it, sir, and I’d like to buy it,” I admit, a bit embarrassed and concerned about ripping his sign.

  “Why?” The old man barks while looking down at the torn sign.

  “Um, well, I want to open a bar and dance hall and I think your place would be perfect.”

  “Why?” he demands again still looking at the torn sign.

  I only hesitate a moment before I decide to share why. Something is telling me to give full disclosure to this man. My heart warms and I relax a little when he looks back at me, his lips twitching. He’s got a genuine feel. I take a breath before I tell him why.

  “It was always mine and my brother, Cody's dream to open up a dance hall and bar. He’s not here anymore, but he left me the means to follow through with our dream and I’d like to do it in honor of his memory and service.” When I say the word service a soft look takes over the old man’s face.

  “Your brother Cody, he was a soldier?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “He die in the desert?” he asks carefully.

  This is the hard part but again something compels me to be completely honest and share my story, Cody’s story.

  “No, sir. He didn’t die in the desert, but he never really came home from there either. I guess he died because of things that happened there? Cody took his own life.” I share and my eyes turn glassy. Jesse pulls me close but I lean into him as the old man keeps his eyes on me.

  “Demons in our minds and souls.” The old man mutters. “Sometimes the only way God can save us from them is to have us safe in His arms behind the pearly gates. Your brother, God has him protected now but I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “My name’s Seward McClellan. Retired Chief Master Sergeant. Served in the Korean War, World War Two and Vietnam. Opened and ran this place after I retired but I’m up there in years. Far past my golden ones and can’t run it like it needs to be anymore. Served as a gathering place for veterans and locals. Sometimes we’d get some young ones in here from the colleges and tourists enjoying the river but mostly locals.”

  “Can we look inside?” I ask and he smiles.

  “Sure thing.” He pulls keys from his pocket and starts for the door. “This place is about nine thousand square feet. It’s going to need some TLC because the last few years I just couldn’t keep up with it but I loved it. Hurts walking away but it’s time.” He opens the door and moves aside so Jesse and I can walk in.

  Once in, I notice a small area that could be used as the reception area. It has an arch that leads into the other larger part. As I pass under the arch, I grin. This is perfect. Off to the side is a long bar with high back bar stools and there’s a mixture of picnic style tables and round tables scattered about but they’re all the same design and wood.

  “It’s got a kitchen.” He points to a swinging door next to the bar. “And offices down the hall over there.” He points to another arch towards the back of the room. “Over there are the restrooms and a storage area.” He points to another area and I look. “Back there, that’s where I stored the inventory for the bar and it’s got a combination and key lock on it. The boys that come in here like to relive their glory days. They think they’re on some mission and are constantly figuring out the combination and busting in. They never take anything but it drove me crazy so I finally just put a lock on it which they started picking.” This causes Jesse and me to laugh. Even he laughs as he shakes his head. “Crazy old coots. Yeah, I’m going to miss those days.” I can tell he really doesn’t want to give up and leave this place. “Yeah, good times.” His voice full of melancholy. “There’s only a few of us old timers left. It’s time to pass on the torch. Get some new blood, young blood, in here.”

  “That’s me, sir.” I inform him.

  “Yup. Thinking you’re the one.” He chuckles. “Go on and look around.”

  Jesse takes my hand and as we walk through the area. I see the perfect spot for a stage and a more than large enough area for a dance floor in front of it. I head to the back door and peek out the window to see another large area outside with a large smoker and barbecue pit. More picnic tables are scattered about and there’s standing ashtrays near the back privacy fence. Some of its covered by the falling tin roof and part of its open to the sky. There’s falling strings of lights hanging from the roof and along the fence. I make a mental note to fix or replace those because I love that. I turn and make my way to the bar and run my hand along the varnish wood. The wooden high back barstools are varnished exactly like the bar. I see a rope hanging from a hole in the ceiling that must go up into the bell tower. That alone has me in love with this place. I point to the rope and Chief smiles.

  “Rang it many times over the years. Always to mark the birth of a child or a marriage. Even rang it for those that finally made it home from tours and sadly rang it more than a few times for those who didn’t. But for those who didn’t, I rang it because I knew they were finally at peace. Kind of like that that old movie. I knew they’d passed over and finally got their much deserved angel wings.” He sighs while looking around.

  “Good thing about having patrons that are retired vets, most have all the time in the world. Feed ‘em give ‘em some of your draft or whiskey and they’ll help you out. All those stools and the bar top were made by me and my buddies. Handmade. Most of the table and benches too.”

  “Wow, Mr. McClellan, this place is amazing. I love it.”

  “Thanks, honey, and call me Chief. Ain’t gonna be and never been a mister. Joined when I was eighteen years old and wore a rank for over thirty years.”

  “Okay, Chief, I want to buy your place.” I declare.

  “Thought that was a given, honey.” He holds up the torn sign while laughing. “Thought we were already in the negotiating stage. How much you willing to give me for this pile of rock and wood?”

  “Um, what you asked in your listing?” I reply in a question but look at Jesse.

  Jesse looks down at me and chuckles and so does Chief.

  “You don’t want to haggle?” Chief asks.

  “Haggle?”

  I look at Jesse for help and he starts laughing.

  “Yes, haggle,” Chief replies while trying not to laugh.

  I get an idea and look at Chief. “How about we barter?”

  “Barter?”

  And now I giggle.

  “Yes, barter, Chief.”

  “I’m not sure what I could barter, honey.” He replies while he looks at me curiously.

  I take a deep breath before I softly tell him my plan. “I’m willing to pay you your asking price if you’ll come in and help me out till I get the hang of things. Once I do, you still come in often as you want and make sure I’m doing right by you.”

  Chief takes a deep breath while keeping eye contact with me. “I reckon I can do that.”


  “Okay then.” I smile up at Jesse and Chief.

  Jesse pulls me to him and whispers against my head. “You finally found your place.”

  Then it hits me. I already have a place. “Jesse, I found my place when you found me. I love you.”

  It’s been two months since I bought the bar and Jesse and our families have been working nonstop to have it ready in time for the grand opening. We’ll open a few weeks before to make sure we’re running smoothly before the actual grand opening. Everyone has been going back and forth between Jaycee and Blue’s house and Holloway’s.

  Last weekend Jaycee and Blue finally moved in and we all went out for a barbecue. The field beside their house was a breathtaking blue from the newly bloomed blue bonnets. And not only is the land they built their home on beautiful but so is their home. It’s new but built with an old feel and has a huge wraparound porch. Abigail and Nick drove in for that and Nick helped Blue hang a lovely porch swing. Connor and Bradley bought them two old style rocking chairs to go on the porch too. Jaycee had already decorated with a couple of tables and some potted flowers ran across the front. The inside is done in western country feel style and her kitchen is breathtaking. It’s got a beautiful country feel with white cabinets that have tiny flowers stenciled on the front. For their upcoming wedding in June, Stone and Violet bought them a beautiful ivory colored vintage stove. It has eight stove top burners and two ovens. When my mom saw it she backed away from it slowly like it was alive and going to attack her. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing as she walked backwards with her hands up ready to protect herself if it attacked. But most of all I remember as Jesse and I drove away, Jaycee and Blue were cuddled up on the porch swing together and Abigail and Nick, who were staying with them for a couple of days, were rocking in the rocking chairs and for a moment I saw them sixty years from now looking just as beautiful and in love as this day.